Xerxes - San Francisco Opera

MUSIC BY GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL
Libretto by Anonymous revision of Silvio Stampiglia’s libretto 'Il Xerse,' based on Nicolo Minato’s 'Il Xerse'
COMPANY PREMIERE

Widely acclaimed as one of the greatest Handel productions of our time, this visually stunning Olivier Award–winning staging by famed film and theater director Nicholas Hytner (The Madness of King George) is the perfect introduction to this Baroque-era masterpiece. Clever comedy is intertwined with tender poignancy in a tale of unrequited love and intrigue at a royal court. Patrick Summers, who conducts Handel with “astounding depth, virtuosity and clarity” (San Francisco Chronicle), leads an outstanding cast featuring Susan Graham, who “does spellbinding justice to Handel’s heavenly music” (The Wall Street Journal), and David Daniels, “the most acclaimed countertenor of the day, perhaps the best ever” (The New York Times).

"Making her San Francisco Opera debut, 2005 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions winner Lisette Oropesa as Romilda displayed a most engaging light soprano with an especially lovely top. The highest notes may not boom out, but their sweetness and fragility cuts right to the heart." San Francisco Classical Voice

Lisette appears at 1:31

Cast:

Xerxes - Susan Graham
Romilda - Lisette Oropesa
Arsamanes - David Daniels
Atalanta - Heidi Stober
Amastris - Sonia Premia
Ariodates - Wayne Tigges
Elviro - Michael Sumuel

Production Credits:

Conductor - Patrick Summers
Production - Nichola Hytner
Revival Director - Michael Walling
Production Designer - David Fielding
Chorus Director - Ian Robertson